“Before John McCain suspended his campaign yesterday, the situation that we're looking at today looked very different then,” Bounds said on MSNBC.

“We were really on the brink, as you well know, of a serious cataclysmic-type financial meltdown, in the sense that freezing credit would have prohibited small businesses from borrowing loans,” the spokesman said.

“We're in a very different situation because of the leadership of John McCain.”

Bounds pointed to the Republican presidential candidate’s meeting with House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) as evidence that he made a difference.

“I think John McCain has a lot of credibility with their constituents, which is why he has been a welcomed voice for them today,” he said.

“He's been meeting with Congressman Boehner, and I think this is — this is an important thing that we're seeing today, which is John McCain going to the House leadership, a place you well know he's not always the most popular.”

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer didn’t share Bounds' point of view.

Asked if he thought McCain, along with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), stepping off the campaign trail to come back to Washington helped foster the deal, the New York Democrat said no, adding, “I think it got in the way.”

While I knew it was coming, I still can't help but be flabbergasted by the unmittigated gall of McCain to try claiming credit for this deal. It wasn't bad enough that he had to blindside Obama after supposedly negotiating with his Campaign after Obama initiated a plan to create a bipartisan effort to support this deal; now he is going to try to steal the credit of the hardworking men and women who really put this deal together. ABSOLUTELY SHAMELESS!

Bounds pointed to the Republican presidential candidate’s meeting with House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) as evidence that he made a difference.

REALLY? Isn't this the same House Minority Leader Boehner who yesterday issued a joint statement with House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi to announce that they were making great progress and reaching fundamental agreement that made a final resolution possible as early as last night?

there is one thing that John McCain definitely knows how to do it is TAKE CREDIT for something whether that credit is earned or not. We do NOT need such a vain, glory hound in the White House for another 4 years!

"yeah", what a douchedongle!, we seen your droopy ass plan from a mile away,...look at the pic...lookin like he really did something "NOT",.......so pick up your droopy as s skin, and the ice princess, and take your... fake, lousy, teleprompter readin, ice cube eatin, blubber sandwich munchin, retreatin to the white house, sittin in the corner because i'm not literate enough to join in the discussion, george bush palin and mcain triple meat sandwich eatin ass on to,...mississippii, and thats the bottom line ...cause stone cold said so!!!

"yeah", what a douchedongle!, we seen your droopy ass plan from a mile away,...look at the pic...lookin like he really did something "NOT",.......so pick up your droopy as s skin, and the ice princess, and take your... fake, lousy, teleprompter readin, ice cube eatin, blubber sandwich munchin, retreatin to the white house, sittin in the corner because i'm not literate enough to join in the discussion, george bush palin and mcain triple meat sandwich eatin ass on to,...mississippii, and thats the bottom line ...cause stone cold said so!!!

The fact is McCain was not there when the deals were made. Frank would not let McCain horn in on his work for good reason. The American people deserve better than this farce where John McCain rides in on a white horse and saves the American economy. This is brought to you by the same people who lied about the Iraq war.

Credit for which deal ??/ First of all there is no deal that is done! Plus this package was put together by the current administration who had a bail out plan - but did nothing to prevent this event!!!!!

Maybe the Deal he is taking credit for is the Crappy Wallstreet Fiasco Deal by employing lobbiest who get money from Freddie Mac up thru last month to the tune of $15,000 per month.

This is what the sons of priveledge learn to do very early. They learn to take credit where no credit is due and John McCain is a son of priveledge and went through the navy like the son of two admirals that he is.

We all saw this coming from a mile a way. Even people McCain was trying to impress called it. It's surreal political theater. We're all sitting back, with our popcorn, and watching the tragic downfall of a once-upon-a-time hero.